Manifolding machine



Feb. 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet l m m E V m Feb. 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1931 7 Shets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Feb, 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1951 T Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 VLM INVEN TOR.

Feb. 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 g INVENTOR.

Feb. 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1931 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Feb. 20, 1934. A. A. JOHNSON 1,948,352

MAN IFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 &

30 Fclg. /d.

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 20, 1934 MANIFOLDING MACHINE Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, 001111., assignor' to Autographic Register Company, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 22, 1931. Serial No. 539,245

34 Claims.

This invention relates to manifolding machines; and more particularly, to means for handling the forms after they'are written or printed upon.

It is an object of this invention to provide a manifoldingmachine which automatically moves the top or original sheet into a'storage compartment, rather than the copy sheet as heretofore, and moves the copy sheets to another compartment or another position where they may be easily disposed of by the operator.

A feature of this invention is the provision of an original sheet filer which is extremely simple and positive in its actions.

Another feature of the inventionis the provision of an original sheet filer which is fully automatic in its action, requiring no conscious effort on the part of the operator, the sheet filing operation being accomplished incidental to the opera-' g tors manipulation of the strip-feeding device,

and yet issues the copy sheets in the usual way.

In its broader aspects, one of the salient features of this invention is the provision of means whereby the strips of a pile may be made to cross each others path when being issued from the machine.

Another like feature is the provision of means for alternately feeding the strips of a pile.

Another feature is the provision of means for operating the severing device twice for each operation of the machine.

In its more specific aspects, an important feature of the invention is the provision of a pinrality of starter mechanisms, and novel release means therefor, in a feeding mechanism of the type broadly disclosed in the patent to Shoup and Oliver, No. 1,396,070, November 8, 1921.

Another like feature is the provision of means for imparting uni-directional movement to the feeding means of a manifolding machine during both directions of movement of an oscillatory crank.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the operating parts of a machine, showing the present invention ap plied thereto, with thetopremoved to clearly show the feeding and severing devices, and the storage compartment.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken on line 22 in Fig. l, the feed crank being shown in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the operating part, as shown in Fig. 3, the deflector, starter, and severing devices being shown in the positions which they occupy when the actuator crank is in its front or normal position.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 4, but showsthe various devices in the positions they assume during the feeding of the original strip.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4, but shows the parts in the positions they assume when the crank is 05 at the end of its backward movement and about to return, with the deflector moved downwardly to switch the copy strips when fed into a different station than that takenby the record strip.

Fig. 7 is like Fig. 4, but shows the devices in the positions they assume during the feeding of the copy strips.

Fig. 8'is a detail side view of the record strip starter, taken on line 3--3 in Fig. l, in the stop position, which it occupies when the crank, dia- V grammatically indicated, is in its front or normal position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but shows the starter latch in released position, as effected by.

the crank or actuator during its initial backward so movement.

Fig. 10 is similar to Figs. 8 and 9, but shows the crank, in dot-and-dash lines, in a farther rearward position, and shows the latch in position to again intercept rotation of the starter. 5

Fig. 11 is a view similar toFigs. .8 to 10, showing the position of the parts while'the crank is being returned.

Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, correspond respectively, with Figs. 8 to 12, but show the starter 9 mechanism for the copy strips, see arrow 4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a detail View of a modified form of starter release mechanism wherein only a single starter device is used to alternately start the recordstrip, and then the copy strip.

Fig. 17 is a detail rear viewof the modified starter shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of one form of superposed strips, used with that form of the machine 109 shown in Figs. 1 to 15, inclusive.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of another form of superposed strips used with the manifolding machine of the present invention, when the modified starter shown in Figs. 15 and 17 isemployed.

Fig. 20is an elevation of a complete register, on a very reduced scale.

Manifolding registers, machines of the type to which this invention is especiallyapplicable and to which the invention is applied in the pres- 119 ent disclosure, are, broadly, of three different types:(l) The type wherein a set of continuous original and duplicate strips 25 of either roll or zig-zag folded type, may be fed over a platen 26 Where a transaction record is written upon one set of forms, and then fed forwardly slightly Where an entire set of forms or sheets 27 may be manually severed from the strips for distribution in any desired way. (2) An entire set 2'? may be fed forwardly the equivalent of one formlength while a bottom or duplicate strip 28 enters a storage compartment 29 where it is rerolled, refolded or stored for master record purposes, while the other duplicate strips 28 and a top original strip 30 are fed extraneous of the machine and then manually or mechanically severed for distribution in any desired manner. (3) The strips 25 may be fed forwardly the equivalent of one form-length, whereupon one set of forms may be automatically severed from the strips 25 so that the bottom duplicate copy 28 falls into the storage compartment 29 for use as a master record copy, while the other upper copies are led extraneous of the machine for distribution in desired manner.

The last-mentioned type is the most desirable type for register users, furnishing as it does a positive and easily handled record of all transactions which inay not be tampered with by a clerk or other persons. However, in these types of machines previously proposed, it was neces sary for the user to conscientiously write with care and apply considerable pressure during the writing operation in order to have a clear and legible bottom copy.

A preferred arrangement would have been to store the top or original sheet, rather than the weak bottom sheet, as a master record copy, because of the considerable use to which this sheet is normally put after being taken from the storage compartment 29, for it is always more legible and does not smudge, while being handled, like the carbon copies. However, this necessitates dropping the top or original sheet through the path of travel of the under or copy sheets, a considerable problem which has never heretofore been accomplished. In one previous effort in this direction, the forms were returned through a tortuous path to a chamber inside the machine where the operator had to reach inside with considerable inconvenience and manually sever the copy sheets from the strips while allowing the original sheets to remain therein. This arrangement was very inconvenient and impractical, and has never met with favor.

The present invention, however, provides a very efilcient and novel means for accomplishing the desired objective of severing the various sheets from the strips, and particularly of moving the top or original sheet downwardly through the path of travel of the duplicate strips to file it in a storage compartment as a master record copy, and issuing the duplicate strips to another position or a point extraneous of the machine, then severing duplicate sheets from the strips for the desired disposition.

In manifolding registers of this type, it is customary to provide a casing 31 comprising side walls 32, end walls 33, and a bottom 34 having a supply compartment 35 at the back end, or righ hand side as viewed in Fig. 20, the storage compartment 29 at the front end, and a feeding mechanism 36 between the two compartments.

The supply. compartment 35 is adapted to house form strips 25 of either the roll or zigzag folded type, and is closed with a platen 26 and a top cover 37. The storage compartment 29 is covered with a lid 38 which is hingedly mounted to the casing and is usually provided with a locking means (not shown) to prevent tampering.

The form strips 25, of either roll or zig-zag type, are placed in the supply compartment 35, the platen 26 is then dropped in place, and the strips are passed over the platen where they are interleaved with carbon or transfer sheets and moved into engagement with the feeding means 36. Also, the cover 37 is brought down in place. The latter is provided with an opening 39 large enough to enable the user to make any desired written record on the set of forms 27 as they rest upon the platen 26.

The strips 25 are fed over the platen formlengths by a feeding mechanism 36 comprising circular disks i0 and cooperating pressure rollers ll which are caused to rotate by operation of a crank 42 carried by the machine. These feed disks and pressure rollers preferably are of the type shown in the Shoup and Oliver patent, No. 1,396,070, November 8, 1921, and are so arranged that the extent of movement given to the strips at each feeding operation is determined by feed apertures 43 in the strips 25.

In said patent and as heretofore suggested elsewhere, all of the strips were fed in unison; through the medium of a starter mechanism, similar to the record strip starter 44 of the present invention, which moves into engagement with the entire set of strips 25 upon initial movement of ie crank 42 to impart a short forward movement to the entire set of strips and thereby move the feed apertures 43 therein out of registry with the feed disks 40 and pressure roller 41 in order to have the circular disks and pressure roller impinge upon the strips and pull them forwardly while the crank was being rotated until the next succeeding set of feed apertures in the strips moved into registry with the disks 40 and roller l1, whereupon further forward feed of the strips would be stopped.

Also, with this type of mechanism heretofore provided, it was customary to provide a deflector which would shunt the bottom carbon or duplicate sheet into the storage compartment 29 and pass the other sheets to the exterior of the machine for ready removal after the sheets were severed from the strips by a suitable severing mechanism actuated by the crank at the end of its rotative movement and after the entire set of strips had been moved into the new station. However, as hereinbefore mentioned, this arrangement had the disadvantage of storing bottom sheets and, in those installations where it was necessary to make several copies, the bottom one or master record sheet would not be satisfactorily legible. In passing, too, it should be noted that in this older form, the crank controlled various functions of the machine only in one direction of its travel, and performed no function when it was returned to its normal position after the severing device had been operated.

The present invention provides a novel feeding means which advances first the top or original strip 30 a predetermined extent, and afterwards advances the copy or duplicate strips 28 a similar predetermined extent. This feature might be advantageous where an unusually large number of strips have to be moved and where the load would be too heavy for all the forms to be moved at the same time. However, in the present instance, it is especially advantageous in order to move the record strip 30 forwardly first for disposition in one manner, and immediately Further, the present invention provides novel means for severing part of the set of strips 25, and then severing the balance of the set of forms 27 from the set of strips during one manipulation of the machine. This feature might be advantageous again where the load is heavy on the severing mechanism as, when an extra large number of strips are required in the set, or where thick or heavy paper is required in the manifolding pack; or, it may be especially advantageous, as in the present application, where it is desired to sever the original sheet 30a from the original strip 30 for disposition in one manner, and then sever the copy sheet 28a from the copy strip 28 for disposition in another manner.

The present invention also provides a novel switching device which is alternately operated to guide some of the strips 25' to one station and guide the balance of the set of strips to another station. In its preferred form, this switching device is used to first shunt the top or original strip 30 into the storage compartment 29, and then is moved automatically to other stations where it switches the copy strips 28 to another station.

All of these unusual features are accomplished with a novel feeding mechanism of the present invention which, besides being operative for novel severing and switching functions as just described, during travel in both directions of its movement,

" is arranged to impart uni-directional rotation to the feed disks 40 during operation in two directions of travel.

Operation of the machine and the manner of accomplishing all of these novel functions will be described in detail hereinafter, but first there is given a specific description of the various mechanisms.

Feeding mechanism The feed disks 40 are rigidly secured to a shaft 46 which is suitably journaled in the side walls 32 of the casing 31, while the cooperating pressure rollers 41 are made integral with a shaft 47 journaled in an inverted U-shaped frame 48 which, at its sides 49 is provided with elongated slots 50 and 51 to embrace shafts 46 and 52, and which, under the influence of a spring 53, is normally yieldingly urged into good frictional engagement with the feed disks 40 while the latter is being rotated.

The driving means for the feed disks 40 according to the present invention, comprises the actuator crank 42 fixed to a shaft 54 suitably .journaled in the side walls 32, as shown in Fig. 1.

A driver gear 55 is also fixed, to the shaft 54 and meshes with an. intermediate gear 56 comprising gear. 60 respectively, mounted for free rotation on the end-of the feed disk shaft 46. The small feed shaft gear 59 has a plate 61 fixed to its side carrying a pawl 62 arranged to drive a ratchet wheel 63 and. related feed disks 40 fixed to the feed shaft 46, when it is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and skip the ratchet teeth 64 when it is driven in a clockwise direction by the meshing external intermediate gear 57.

Similarly, the larger feed shaft gear 60 is pro.- vided with a plate 65 carrying a pawl 66, likewise adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 63 and drive it and the related feed disks 40 when moved in a counter-clockwise direction and skip the teeth 64 thereon when driven in a clockwise direction under the influence of the internal intermediate gear 58.

With this novel feeding mechanism, as the crank 42 is moved backwardly in the direction of the arrow 67 in Fig. 2, the driver gear 55 is moved in a clockwise direction, driving the intermediate gear 56 in a counter-clockwise direction, whereupon the internal intermediate gear 58 rotates the meshing large feed shaft gear 60 in a counter-clockwise direction while the pawl 66 thereon engages teeth 64 on the ratchet wheel 63 and moves the circular feed disks 40 in a counter-clockwise or feeding direction. At the same time, the external intermediate gear 57 moves the small feed shaft gear 59 in a clockwise direction while the plate 61 and pawl 62 thereon skips inelfectively over the ratchet wheel teeth.

However, when the crank reaches the back limit of travel, against the stop 67, and the oper ator again moves it forwardly toward the normal position against the stop 68, the driver gear 55 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction whereupon the external intermediate gear 57 rotates the small feed shaft gear 59 in a counter-clockwise direction to move the pawl 62 carried thereby into the ratchet wheel teeth 63 to drive the feed disks 40 in a counter-clockwise feeding direction; at the same time the internal intermediate gear 58 in its clockwise rotation drives the large feed shaft gear 60 and related pawl 66 in a clockwise direction so that the pawl skips ineffectively over the ratchet wheel teeth.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides a feed mechanism which rotates a feed disk in a unidirectional manner even though the actuator therefor is operated in different directions.

The gearing ratio between the feed shaft 46 and crank shaft 54 during the travel of the crank 42 from the stop 68 to the other stop 6'7, or from the stop 67 to the stop 68, is such that the peripheral pulling travel of the feed disks 40 is greater than the longest form-length which may be de-,

Near the center of the feed shaft 46 there is mounted a plurality of strip starters 69 and '70, preferably comprising sleeves '71 and '72 respectively, freely rotatable on the shaft 46, but having frictional driving engagement with driver collars '73 and '74. which are fixed to the shaft by set screws '75. These collars serve to frictionally drive the sleeves through the medium of a compression spring '76, which forces the sleeves with the desired degree of friction against the collars '73 and '74. The starter sleeves 71 and 72 are also provided with strip-engaging rollers 77 and 78 respectively, as may best be seen in Figs. 1 and 8 to 15, inclusive. In the present invention, the starter 69 is used to start the feed or initially advance the original strip 30, and the other starter is used to initiate the feed of the copy strips 28.

The original strip starter 69 is normally held against rotation through the medium of a stop finger 79 portion of a latch 80 which is pivotally mounted on a cross bar 81, engaging a stop 82 on the sleeve 71 under the influence of a tension spring 83, as shown in Fig. 8. Similarly, the duplicate strip starter 70 is normally held against rotation by a stop finger 84 portion of a latch 85 which is also pivotally mounted on the cross bar 81 and yieldingly urged into engagement with a stop 86 on the sleeve 72, under the influence of a tension spring 87 as shown in Fig. 12.

At the lower end of the original strip starter latch 80, there is a dog 88 pivotally mounted on a stud 89, normally held in engagement with a stop pin 90, and having operative engagement with a latch actuating arm 91 fixedly secured to the crank shaft 54 in such manner that, when the crank is moved toward the back of the machine, the arm works against the bevel 92 on the dog 88 to kick the latch 80 in a counter clockwise direction, and thereby move the stop finger 79 out of engagement with the sleeve 71 to permit its rotation. The arm 91 almost immediately moves clear of the dog 88 again, see Fig. 10, to permit it to move in a clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 83 into sleeve stop 72 intercepting position.

Similarly, a second arm 93 on the crank shaft 54 moves into engagement with a dog 94 jivotally mounted on the lower end of the duplicate strip starter latch 85 but ineifectively rotates this dog when the crank 42 is moved back, see Fig. 15, yet effectively moves against a bevel 95 thereon when the crank is initially moved forwardly again, to move the duplicate strip starter latch 85 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 13, to release the stop finger 84 and thereby the copy strip starter 70, and almost immediately allows it to move back to normal stopping position again under the influence of the spring 87, as shown in Fig. 14.

Switching device The switching device 45 of the present invention comprises a convex-shaped plate 96 fixed by studs 97 to the underside of the lid 38 in back of an aperture 98, while another guide strip 99 is fixed to the lid adjacent and in front of the flat edge of the aperture 99a, and a movable deflector 100 provided with pins 101 at each side thereof to provide a pivotal connection therefor in the side walls 32 of the casing. In the present invention, the deflector 100 is arranged to be automatically moved to various predetermined stations for switching first one strip to a predetermined station and then. the other strip or strips to another predetermined station, with no conscious effort on the part of the operator. The present preferred means for accomplishing this comprises a lever 102, see Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, pivotally mounted on a stud 103 on the crank side of the casing. This lever is provided with a'roll 104 on a stud 105 adapted to engage the underside of the deflector 100 and at its other end is provided with a similar roll 106 on a stud 107 adapted to ride on a cam disk 108 which is fixed to the crank shaft 54.

A spring detent 109 is fixed to a side 32 of the casing and, as shown, is provided with two notches 110 and 111 adapted to coact with a pin 112 on the lever 102 and maintain it in either a raised position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when the notch 110 engages the pin 112, or in a lowered position as shown in Fig. 6, when the other notch 111 coacts with the pin. Alternate automatic movement of the sheet deflector into raised and lowered position is, as shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, accomplished by the cam hook 113 and lobe 114, for as the crank 42 is moved from the forward station toward the back of the machine, in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 4 and 5, the deflector 100 is maintained in the raised position, shown in Figs. 2 to 5, by the spring detent 109, and any strip fed forwardly by means of the rotating feed disks 40 will engage the underside of the deflector 100 and be switched downwardly into the storage compartment 29.

However, as the crank approaches the back position, the lobe 114 portion of the cam disk 108 engages the roller 106 and moves the lever 102 in a counter-clockwise direction until the other notch 111 of the spring detent engages the pin 112, as shown in Fig. 6, and at the same time a spring 115 pulls the deflector in a clockwise di rection about its pivot pins 101 until it takes the lowered position shown in Fig. 6.

.As the crank 42 is normally returned to the forward station again, the spring detent 109 keeps the lever 102 and deflector 100 in the lowered position so that the next succeeding strip or strips which are subsequently fed forwardly by the feed disks 40 engage the top face of the deflector 100 and are shunted or switched forwardly and upwardly through the aperture 98. Further, as the crank 42 approaches the end of its forward movement, the hook 113 on the cam disk 108 engages the roller 106 on the lever 102 and pulls it downwardly in a clockwise direction about its pivot 103 so that the other roller 104- at the opposite end thereof cams the deflector 100 upwardly into its raised position again as shown in Fig. 4, where it is maintained by the notch 110 in the spring detent 109. The forward ends of any strips which have been switched during this operation will project beyond the top surface of the lid 38 so that the operator may readily grasp the same for any desired disposition.

Seoerz'ng mechanism The severing mechanism 116 of the present invention comprises a knife bar 117 carried in a knife frame 118 having side flanges 119 provided with guiding slots 120 riding on pins 121, secured to the side plates 32. When the knife moves upwardly, it forces the strips against the ledger bar 122 to cut a form-length or sheets therefrom. At this time the strip or strips are held firmly against the ledger bar 122 by grippers 123 supported on plates 124 slidably mounted on the knife frame 118. The fingers 125 in the knife 117 and fingers 126 on the gripper plates 124 are connected by springs 127 so that as the knife frame moves upwardly the grippers 123 first press the record strip against the ledger bar 122 and firmly hold it while the springs 127 yield so that the grippers remain stationary while the knife 11'? continues to travel upwardly engaging the paper to cut it. The knife 117 moves upwardly into a slot 128 in the ledger bar 122 a short extent. The knife frame 118 is at its lower end connected to an arm 129 portion of a collar 130 rotatably mounted on the crank shaft 54, and the rear end of the collar 130 is provided with an arm 131 connected to a link 132, the lower end of which has a toggle connection 133 to an operating lever 134 pivotally mounted on a stud 135 on the side 32, and having near its center a roller 136 on a stud 137 adapted to engage the cam disk 108. The latter is provided with a long dwell 138 and front and rear lobes 139 and 140 respectively. The weight of the severing mechanism 116 is sufficient to move the collar 130 in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby lift the interconnected roller 136 into engagement with the under-side of the cam disk 108.

The cam and lever arrangement is such that when the crank 42 is moved in the direction of the arrow 67, Fig. 4, the cam disk 103 on the crank shaft 54 is moved in a clockwise direction and the roller 136 on the lever 134 rides down the lobe 139 onto the dwell 138 during initial movement of the crank42 to move the severing mechanism 116 into its lowered position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the strips may be fed forwardly without danger of interference, and the knife 117, because of the dwell 138, remains in the down or lowered position during the further backward pull of the crank 42 until the crank nearly engages the back stop 67 whereupon the other lobe 140 on the disk 108 cams the roller 136 on the operating lever 134 to pull the link 132 downwardly and rotate the collar 130 in a clockwise direction, and

' thereby, through the arm 129 and pin connection 141, move the knife frame 118 upwardly while the slots 120 in the sides 119 thereof guide it slightly forwardly so that the knife blade 117 underlies the aperture 128 in the ledger bar 122,

' and as the knife frame 118 is raised upwardly in this station, the grippers 123 force the record strips against the underside of the ledger bar to rigidly hold them.

After the grippers 123 engage the paper in this manner and with the final upward movement of the knife frame 118, the knife 117 moves upwardly into the slot 128 to sever a sheet or sheets of predetermined lengths from the strips. During this final and cutting movement of the knife, the grippers 123 remain stationary due to the spring 127 connection hereinbefore described in detail.

As the crank 42 is returned from the back position against the stop 63 to the forward normal position against the other stop 67, during its initial movement, the lobe 140 allows the lever roller 136 to move quickly down into the dwell 133 on the cam disk 108 and thereby moves the knife 117 to its lowered position as shown in Fig. 7, so that other strips may be moved forwardly by the feed mechanism 36 without danger of interference, and again, as the crank approaches the forward end of its travel, the other cam lobe 139 working against the operating lever roller 136, pulls the link downwardly so that the lever 132 is ,moved in a clockwise direction to move the knife frame upwardly and cause it to again perform a severing operation. Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides a severing de vice which is operated twice during each complete cycle of movement of the main actuator.

Record box The record box comprises a frame 142 having a cross bar 143 adapted to ride in a slot or shelf 144 which supports the box at its rear end and is further provided with a strap 145 extending backwardly to an arm 146 integral with the collar 130, and is pivotally connected to this arm with a stud 147. The frame 142 is provided with a vertically disposed shelf 148 at its forward end which limits the forward movement of the strips into the storage compartment. A similar shelf 149 is connected to the knife frame to limit the backward movement of the strips in the storage compartment and a spring strip 150 is provided in the bottom of the casin or box 142 to support the record strips as they are moved into the rec- 0rd storing position.

This general arrangement is such that the record box 142 is pulled backwardly in the slot 144 by the arm 146 as the crank 42 is moved rearwardly until the back end of the spring 150 is adjacent the shelf 149, and is again moved to its forward station shown in Fig. 3 by the arm 146 when the crank 42 is moved back into its forward station against the stop 68 under the influence of the lobes 139 and 140 on the cam disk 103 working on the lever 134 and link 132. Movement of the record box into the back and front stations as just described serves to shake the record strips into an even pile, as shown in Fig. 3.

Record strip The set of strips used with the present preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the top or original strip and one or more duplicate strips 28 thereunder having a carbon undercoating; or, if desired, may be interleaved with continuous carbon or transfer strips with apertures 151 to clear the original copy starter 77. But for simplicity in the description it is presumed that they are interleaved with machine supported short transfer sheets or strips running transversely through sets of forms 27, one set at a time at the writing platen 26, in the well known manner.

In its broader aspects, the set of strips 25 may be formed either by a plurality of rolls, or by a zig-zagfolded pack,the mechanisms of the present invention being applicable advantageously with either form. The set of strips is, of course, provided with a continuous run of forms 27. Near the head end of each form there is provided a plurality of feed controlling apertures 43, the purpose of which has been hereinbefore described in detail. Of particular importance, however, the forms 27 of the present invention are further provided with original strip starter apertures 151 in the duplicate strip or strips 23 offset relatively thereto with duplicate strip starter apertures 152 in the original strip 30, the purpose of which is about to be explained in detail.

Operation Operation of the register embodying the several features of the present invention is as fol-.

lows:

The operator or user loads the supply compartment with a zig-Zag folded pack or rolls constituting the sets of strips 25, then the ends thereof are moved upwardly and forwardly over the writing platen 26. At this point the strips are. interleaved with transfer sheets or strips so that any writing made on the top or original strip 30 will be transferred to the under or duplicate.

strips 28, then forwardly to the feed mechanism 36 between the circular feed disks and pressure rollers 41 until the feed controlling apertures 43 in the set of strips 25 are in registry with the feed disks 40 and pressure rollers 41, in which station the feed disks 40 are, of course, ineffective to advance the strips 23 and 30.

This serves to align the original and copy strips longitudinally with respect to each other and locates a set of forms 27 with respect to the platen 26.

After a transaction has been recorded on a set of forms 27 through the top plate opening 39, it is customary to move a new set of forms onto the writing platen and to issue certain of the written forms either to be passed on to a customer or for disposition in some similar manner, and to move the balance of the written forms into a storage compartment for the proprietors permanent and master record of transactions, or some similar disposition. Ordinarily this master record copy would be shunted into a storage compartment wherein it would be looked so that a clerk or others could not tamper with it and would at the end of a work day or work week be removed for totalizing and other recording purposes. This master record sheet is the one of the entire set which is put to greatest use and should preferably be the top or original sheet having direct pencil writing, rather than an under or duplicate sheet, with a weak carbon transfer inscription, which is less clear and more apt to smudge.

However, with practically all record sheet filing registers heretofore proposed, it was possible to file or store only the bottom, therefore the weakest, copy of the entire set. In most cases where it was necessary to use several copy strips in order to have the desired number of copies for various purposes, or where it was necessary to use thick paper for one or more of the strips, the bottom sheet was very often too weak to be of real value as a master record sheet.

The present invention, however, does make it possible to store the top original sheet down inside the machine, rather than a carbon transfer sheet, and at the same time issues the carbon sheet or under-sheets to another station for distribution in another manner. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to pass the top original strip through the path of travel of the under copy strips and the present invention provides a unique mechanism for accomplishing this problem in a positive and highly efficient manner.

With this end in view, the mechanism of the present invention is arranged that as the operator manipulates the crank 42 to advance a new set of forms onto the writing platen 26, the feed mechanism 36 advances the top original strip 30 only a predetermined extent, then severs a sheet 30a, which is but one form length from the strip 30, for storage in the compartment 29,

and thereafter as the crank is returned to the crank shaft 54, the large driver gear rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, and in turn drives the intermediate gear 56 in a counter-clockwise direction on the stud 52 so that the internal intermediate gear 58 drives the large feed shaft gear 60 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby moving the pawl 66 which it carries into driving engagement with the ratchet wheel 63 which is fixed to the feed shaft 46, and thereby rotates the circular feed disk 40 in a --counter-c1ockwise or paper strip-pulling direction. At the same time and as hereinbefore described, the external intermediate gear 5'7 drives the small feed shaft gear 59 and related pawl 62 in a clockwise direction, and the pawl skips in effectively over the feed shaft ratchet wheel 63 during the backward movement of the crank 42..

The feeding disks 40 do not, however, immediately pull the strips forward because the feed controlling apertures 43 in the strips are in registry with the disks 40 and pressure roller 41 so that, as a consequence, they have no traction on the strips. This, however, holds true only during the first small arcuate movement of the crank, during which small arcuate movement the crank shaft 54 in its initial rotation moves sufficiently for the roller 136 on the knife-operating lever 134 to move down on the lobe 139 to the dwell 138, thereby dropping the knife frame 118 to the lowered or inoperative position.

At substantially the same time the record strip starter actuating arm 91 on the crank shaft 54 moves into engagement with the bevel 92 on the dog 88, as shown in Fig. 8, and cams the latch in a counter-clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 83, thereby moving the latch stop finger 79 out of engagement with the notch 82 on the starter sleeve '71 and thereafter permits the sleeve to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of the friction disk or collar '73 until the starter roller 77 thereon rotates upwardly into the starter apertures 151, see Fig. 18, in'the duplicate strips 28, where it engages the solid portion of the original strip 30 which overlies the apertures 151, to pull the latter alone forwardly a short distance as it engages with the pressure roller 41, a sufficient extent at least to move the original strip feed control apertures 43 out of registry with the feed disks 40 and pressure roller 41 and move a solid portion of the strip into feeding engagement b tween the disks and pressure roller.

Upon continued backward movement of the crank 42, the latch actuating arm 91 moves out of engagement with the dog 88 as shown in Fig. 10, whereupon the spring 83 moves the latch in a clockwise direction so that the stop finger '79 is again in position to engage the notch 82 on the sleeve '71 to intercept further rotation, yet permit feed disk 40 rotation, after but a single turn of the starter sleeve. Thereafter, upon the continued backward movement of the crank 42 toward the back stop 67, the feed disks 40 and pressure rollor 41, working through the feed controlling aperture 43 in the stationary duplicate strips 28 pulls the top original strip forwardly and the front end of this strip in its forward travel moves under the ledger bar 122 to the underside of the deflector 100 which is in its raised position and this in turn switches the original strip down into the storage compartment 29 where it overlies the pack 32 in the record box 142 which is, through the link connection 145 to the arm 146 portion of the collar 130, pulled toward the back of the machine.

The feed disks 40 and pressure roller 41, due to the friction drive 73 and 76, are effective to continue pulling the original strip forwardly until the next succeeding set of feed controlling apertures pass into registry therewith, whereupon the disks continue to rotate but the original strip remains stationary.

After this, in the further backward movement of the crank 42 toward the stop 67, the lobe 140 on the cam disk 108 in its rotation cams the roller 136 on the lever 134 downwardly and thereby through the link 132 moves the arms 129' and 131a, portion of the collar 130, in a clockwise direction on the shaft 54, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, to move the interconnected knife frame 118 upwardly while the grippers 123 thereon clamp the original strip 30 against the underside of the ledger bar 122 and the knife 117 in its further upward movement severs a single form or sheet 30a from the original strip 30.

At substantially the same time, another lobe 114 on the cam disk 108 workingagainst the roller 106 on the lever 102 which is pivotally mounted on the stud 103, moves the lever in a counter-clockwise direction so that the roller 104 on the opposite end which supports the deflector 100 is moved downwardly until the lower notch 111 of the spring detent 109 engages the pin 112 and the deflector 100 moves about its pivot 101 to the lowered position, shown in Fig. 6.

The various parts are preferably so proportioned and timed that the feeding of the original strip 30 is completed and the severing device and switching device are actuated just before the crank 42 engages the back stop 67. If desired, another notch 154 may be provided to drop the knife 117 a sufficient extent to move the grippers 123 clear of the sheet 30a while the crank 42 is in the back position.

Now, as the operator continues the single cycle of the movement of the crank 42 and returns it to the normal forward station against the stop 68, a very similar feeding and severing of the inscribed duplicate strips 28 is effected toa different station while the top original strip 30 remains stationary. During thefirst portion of the arcuate returning movement of the crank 42 toward the front of the machine, it rotates the shaft 54 and driver gear 55 thereon in a counter-clock wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the latter in turndrlves the meshing intermediate gear 56 in a clockwise direction upon the stud 52 so that the external intermediate gear 57 drives the small feed shaft gear 59 in a counter-clockwise direction while the pawl 62 thereon positively engages the teeth 64 of the ratchet wheel 63 fixed on the feed shaft 46 to rotate the feed disks 40 in a counter-clockwise or strlp-pulling'direction. As the internal intermediate gear 58 simultaneously rotates in a clockwise direction, it drives the large feed shaft gear in a clockwise direction and thereby the feed pawl carried by the latter skips ineffectively over the ratchet wheel teeth 69. Thus it will be seen that the feed disks 40 are given uni-directional rotation even though the actuator 42 moves in different directions.

During the first part of the returning movement of the crank 42 toward the front of the machine, the rotating feed disks 40iand cooperating pressure rollers 41 are ineffective for pulling the strips because the feed controlling apertures 43 are in registry therewith. This ineffective feed period is utilized to move the severing'device 116 into its lowered inoperative pos'tion and :to release the duplicate strip starter 70. To this end,

the roller 36 on the lever 134 rides down on the lobe 140 of the cam disk 108 as the latter rotates, to the dwell 138 thereon, while the link 132 moves the collar 130 in a counter-clockwise direction on the shaft 54 while the arm 129 pulls the knife frame 118 and related parts downwardly to its lowered or inoperative position shown in Fig. 7, whereupon the original sheet 30a is free to drop down upon the pack 30b in the record box 142 (if the notch 154 is not used) and the path is clear for the forward travel of other strips from the feed mechanism 36.

During this initial return movement of the crank, the second latch actuating arm 93 on the crank shaft 42 moves in a counter-clockwise direction against the bevel 95 portion of the dog 94 on the lower end of the duplicate strip starter the dog 94 as shown in Fig. 14, whereupon the latch 85 moves in a clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 87 so that the stop finger 84 is in position to again engage the notch 86 in the sleeve 72 to prevent further rotation of the duplicate strip starter sleeve '72, after it has made but a single revolution.

Upon further rotation of the crank 42, the friction collar '74 rotates the sleeve 72 until the duplicate strip starter roller 78 moves into engagement with portions of the duplicate strips 28 underlying the aperture 152 in the original strip 30 so that this roller then cramps the paper between itself and the pressure roller 41 to pull the duplicate strips 28 forwardly a short extent (while the original strip 30 which, because of the aperture 152 receives no traction, remains stationary) pulling the duplicate strips forwardly until the feed control apertures 43 therein move out of registry with the feed disks 40 and pressure roller 41 and solid portions thereof are in feeding engagement with the same.

The feed disks 40 thereafter effectively pull all of the duplicate strips 28 forwardly until the next succeeding feed control apertures 43 therein come into registry with the feed disks 40 and pressure rollers 41 whereupon the feed is auto- 115 matically stopped. In this forward movement of the duplicate strip or strips 28, the strips move along under the ledger bar 122 and engage the under-side of the fixed convex plate 96 to be switched slightly downwardly and engage the top 120 surface of the deflector 100, and later the other lid plate 99 shunts the forward ends upwardly above the lid 38 through the aperture 98 so as to be readily grasped by the user, or to some other predetermined station.

Near the end of the returning movement of the crank 42 and as the other arm 91 movesin a counter-clockwise direction, it engages the dog 88 on the lower end of the original strip starter latch 30, but ineffectively kicks it about in a clockwise direction on the pin 89 as shown in Fig. 11, so that the original strip starter sleeve is not released as the crank is moved from the back position toward the front position.

After the complete forward feed of the duplicate strips when the feed rollers 40 pass into registry with the next succeeding feed control apertures 43, and upon final arcuate movement of the crank 42 toward the front stop 68, the first lobe 139on the cam disk 108 again works against the roller 136 on the lever 134 to move it downwardly on its pivot 135 while the link 132 moves the collar 130 in a clockwise direction on the crank shaft 54 and the arm 129 thereon moves the knife frame 118 upwardly. In this upward M15 movement of the knife frame, it moves forwardly slightly through the pin 121 and slot 120 connection to properly underlie the ledger bar 122, and the grippers 123 on the knife frame 118 engage the set of duplicate strips 28 to clamp it on 150 the underside of the ledger bar and thereafter the severing knife 117 moves upwardly to cut through and detach the set of duplicate sheet or sheets 28a.

At the same time, a hook 113 on the cam disk 108 engages the roller 106 on the deflector lever 102 to pull it downwardly and thereby move the roller 104 at the opposite end thereof upwardly to move the deflector into the raised position again, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, where it is maintained by the upper notch in the spring detent 109 engaging the pin 112. The general position of the severing device 116 and deflector 100 being the same as that shown in Fig. 4, when the crank 42 reaches the normal or forward station against the stop 68.

As the crank 42 reaches the farthest front position against the stop 68,'the arm 146 and link connection to the record box 142 moves the record box slightly and thereby causes the loose record orqoriginal sheet 30a thereon to settle firmly in registry with the pack against the back plate 148.

This operation may be repeated an almost indefinite number of times to successfully feed; first, an original sheet 30a into the storage compartment and then a duplicate sheet or sheets 28a to another station, until the zig-zag folded packages or rolls in the supply compartment 35 comprising the set of strips 25 are consumed and a new supply required.

If desired, this alternate feeding arrangement may be used to advance a set of strips to a single predetermined station by alternate movements of first one then another section of the set, as, for instance, when the set is exceedingly heavy either due to a large number of strips or a very heavy material in the strips which would make the load too heavy for the feed mechanism.

Also, if desired, the set of strips 25 may be formed so that two or more of the strips from each set may be filed in the storage compartment 29, while the balance are otherwise disposed of, by having additional apertures 152 in other strips and eliminating apertures 151 in these strips.

Figs. 17 and 18 show a modified form of starter mechanism according to the present invention. This form is especially advantageous where a very narrow record strip is to be used.

Further, the form of starter mechanism as shown in Fig. 8, may be regularly employed in place of that starter mechanism hereinbefore described where it is desired to simplify the manifolding machine and use the smallest number of parts.

In this modified form of starter control, shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 19, only a single starter sleeve 155 is provided, and only a single aperture is provided for accomplishing the same purposes that the two starter sleeves and two latches hereinbefore described. As may best be seen in Figs. 16 and 17, the sleeve 155 is assembled to the circular disk feed shaft 46 for free rotation thereon but is held against longitudinal travel thereon by the friction disk or collar 73 and by the spring 76 which extends from one side of the sleeve to the side of the circular collar'74.

This sleeve 1.55 is provided with two starter rolls 77 and 78 for the original strip 300 and the duplicate strip or strips 280, respectively. The relationship between the spring 76 and the fixed collar 74, see 19, is such that the operator may rotate the circular disks 40 (with the feed mechanism 36 described with the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 16, inclusive) in order to feed a set of strips 250 while the starter sleeve 155 is held against rotation by a single latch 156. This single latch 156 is pivotally mounted on the cross bar 81 and is provided with a stop finger 157 which is adapted to engage the stop lugs 158 and 159 on the sleeve 155, and is normally biased into this position by the spring 83.

The lower end of the latch is provided with an original strip starter dog 160 and duplicate strip starter dog 161 both of which are pivotally mounted on a pin 162 which extends through the arm 163 portion of the latch, but on opposite sides of this arm, and are each provided with fingers 164 and 165 respectively, extending rearwardly near the outer end of which there is attached a compression spring 166 which normally forces the dog 160 against the pin 167' and forces the other dog 161 against a stop pin 168. Substantially the same starter arms 91 and 93 as used with the preferred form of the invention hereinbefore described, may be used with this latch in order to effect a release of the starter 156 for both the original and duplicate strips.

Operation of this simplified starter is as follows: A set of strips 250 of the form shown in Fig. 19 is placed in the supply compartment, run over the platen 26 to feed disks 40 until feed apertures 43 therein are in registry with circular disks 40 and, when the operator desires to move a set of forms into working position on the platen, he merely pulls the crank 42 toward the back of the machine whereupon the arm 91 in its initial movement engages a bevel 169 on the dog 169 to give the latch 156 a counter-clockwise movement, as viewed in Fig. 16, and release the starter stop finger 157 from the stop 158, whereupon the sleeve 155 rotates with the feed shaft 46 under the influence of the friction collar 73, and the original strip starter roller 77 passes into apertures 170 in the duplicate strips 28c and engages the original strip 300 only to pull it ahead a small extent until the feed apertures move out of registry with the feed disks 40 and regular feed is effected by the circular disks 40 and pressure rollers 41 and immediately after- Wards the arm 91 clears the dog 160 and allows the latch 156 to swing in a clockwise direction again on the shaft 81 under the influence of the spring 83 to intercept rotation of the sleeve 1.55 when the stop 159 thereon reaches the finger 157.

The other arm 93 is off-set longitudinally slightly with respect to the first arm 91 so that it does not engage the bevel 169 on the dog 160 but does engage a fiat edge on the other dog 161 to ineffectively rotate it in a counter-clockwise direction on the pivot 162 against the pressure of the spring 166 until the arm 93 moves below the dog 161, similar to a position shown in Fig.

12, and then when the operator returns the crank 42 to its back or normal position, the arm 93 effectively works against the bevel 171 to give the latch 156 another counter-clockwise movement to free the stop finger 157 from the stop 159 whereupon the sleeve 155 rotates with the feed shaft 81 to move the duplicate s rip roller 78 into engagement with the apertured portion 172 of the original strip, see Fig. 17, to move the duplicate strips 280 forward slightly, without moving the original strip 31c, until the feed apertures 43 in the duplicate strip are moved out of registry with the circular feeding disk 40, whereupon the feed rollers 40 and pressure rollers 41 effectively move the duplicate strips forward a predetermined extent, until the next succeeding feed controlling apertures 43 come into registry with the circular feed disks.

Immediately after the latch release is effected, the arm 93 allows the latch 156 to move in a clockwise direction again under the influence of the spring 83, to intercept the sleeve rotation, by the finger 157 moving into engagement with the next stop lug 159 portion of the sleeve. The same feed mechanism severing device and switching (is vice hereinbefore described in detail for use with the preferred form of starters shown in Figs. l to 15 may be employed with this modified form of starter control.

Also, it should be noted that although the present invention accomplishes several new and very desirable objectives, the same have been accoinplished in a very efficient and advantageous way, for it is not necessary to mutilate the strips in any way, the only addition being the starter apertures which may be notched in the sides of the form or, as at present preferred, may be punched in an unused and inconspicuous portion of the form between the regularly pro vided feed control apertures, and may be pro- ,duced in the strips at the same time that the feed apertures are punched therein, thereby not adding to the cost of the preparation of these forms in any way.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions porting a plurality of superposed strips; means for alternately feeding first one or more and then the remainder of said strips each a predetermined extent; and a severing device to sever said strips 'giinto sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip.

3. In a manifolding device, a platen for supporting a plurality of superposed strips; means for alternately feeding first one or more and then ;the remainder of said strips each a predetermined extent; and a severing device controlled by said means to sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip.

4. In a manifolding device, a platen for supporting a plurality of superposed strips; means for alternately feeding first one and then the other of said strips each a predetermined extent; a severing device to; sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip; and a switching device for alternately guiding each of said strips into predetermined stations.

5. In a manifolding device; aplaten for supporting a plurality of superposed strips; means for alternately feeding first one or moreand then the remainder of said strips each a predetermined extent; a severing device controlled by said means to sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip; and a switching device also controlled by said means for altergnately guiding the separately advanced strips into .;ing device; means for advancing the original strip alone a predetermined extent; and means for then actuating the severing device to cut off an original sheet from the original strip and allow the original sheet to fall into the storage compartmen-t.

7. In a manifolding device, a platen for supporting a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips a storage compartment; a severing device; means for advancing the original strip alone a predetermined extent; means for then actuating the severing device to cut off an original sheet from the original strip and allow said sheet to fall into the storage compartment; and means operated thereafter for advancing the duplicate strip alone, a predetermined extent, across the path previously taken by the original strip.

8. In a manifolding device, a platen for supporting a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips; a storage compartment; a severing device; means for advancing the original strip alone a predetermined extent; means for then actuating the severing device to out off an original sheet from the original strip and allow the original sheet to fall into the storage compartment; means operated thereafter for advancing the duplicate strips alone, a predetermined extent, across the path previously taken by the original strip to accessible positions outside the machine; and means for thereafter actuating the severing means to cut the accessible sheets from the copy strip.

9. In a device adapted to regulate the feeding of superposed original and duplicate strips; feeding means adapted to regulate the advance o-f'the strips through the medium of apertures in the strips; a plurality of strip feed starters, one for the original strip and one for the duplicate strips; a plurality of starter controlling devices; an actuator for said feeding means; and means controlled by the actuator for alternately operating said starter controlling devices according to a predetor-mined plan or sequence.

ii). In a device adapted to regulate the feeding of superposed original and duplicate strips, feeding means adapted to regulate the advance of the strips through the medium of apertures in the strips; strip feed starting means; controlling means for the starting means; an actuator for the feeding means; and means controlled by the actuator for alternately operating said starter control means according to a predetermined plan or sequence.

ll. In a manifolding deviceadapted to regulate the feeding of superposed ,original and duplicate strips through the medium of feed-controlling apertures therein, and further provided with" starter-escape apertures; feed means; starter means; and means for actuating the feed means and for moving the starter into engagement with the original strip through the starter escape aperture in the duplicate strips to move it into cooperation with the feed means to be advanced thereby while the duplicate strips remain stationary.

12. In a manifolding device adapted to regulate the feeding of superposed original and duplicate strips through the medium of apertures therein, and further provided with starter escape apertures; feed means; starter ,means; and means for actuating the feed means .and for moving the. starter into engagement with the original strip through the starter escape aper ture in the duplicate strips to move it into registry with the feed means to be advanced thereby into a predetermined position, while thefd plicate strips remain stationary, and upon further 150 with the feed means to be advanced thereby while the record strip remains stationary.

13. In a manifolding device adapted to regulate the feeding of a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips through the medium of feed controlling apertures and starter escape apertures therein, the latter in the original strips overlying starter feed engaging sections in duplicate strips, and vice versa; rotatable feed means for advancing said strips until the feed apertures register therewith; a starting device adapted to alternately engage the original strip through starter escape apertures in the duplicate strip and advance it into engagement with the rotatable feed means for further advance thereby until the next following feed controlling apertures therein move into registery with the rotatable feed means and thereafter engage the duplicate strip through starter escape apertures in the original strip to advance it into engagement with the rotatable feed means for further advance until the next following feed-controlling aperture moves into registry With the rotatable feed means.

14. In a manifolding device, a platen for supporting superposed original and duplicate strips; a plurality of starters for intiating movement of the original strip and the duplicate strip; feed means for advancing the original strip and duplicate strip to predetermined stations; and means for controlling the starters whereby the original strip and the duplicate strips are fed into the predetermined positions alternately.

15. In a device adapted to regulate the feeding of a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips of fabric through the medium of apertures in each thereof at different transverse planes; and feed means for advancing said strips including a handle which upon actuation in one direction advances the original strip until the aperture therein reaches the feed means and upon actuation in reverse direction advances the duplicate strip until the aperture therein reaches the feed means.

16. In a device adapted to regulate the feeding of a plurality of superposed strips, one an original strip and the other a duplicate strip,

through the medium of apertures arranged in series longitudinally thereof and other apertures arranged in different planes transversely thereof for the respective strips; a severing device; a switching device; and a movable strip-feeding means having operative connection with said severing device and said switching device and adapted to feed the original strip until the aperture therein is in registry with the feed means, then actuate the severing device and the switching device to sever the original strip for disposition in one manner, and thereafter upon further operation adapted to feed the duplicate strip until the next following aperture therein is in registry with the feed means, then actuate the severing device and switching device to dispose of the copy strip in another manner.

17. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric having starter sections and starter escape sections; a manifolding device for sup- 18. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric having starter sections and starter escape sections; a manifolding device for supporting said plurality of superposed strips; means engaging said starter sections on the strips and alternately feeding first one or more and then the remainder of said strips each a predetermined extent; and a severing device to sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip.

19. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric having starter sections and starter escape sections; a Inanifolding device for supporting said plurality of superposed strips; means engaging said starter sections on the strips and alternately feeding first one or more and then the remainder of said strips each a predetermined extent; and a severing device controlled by said means to sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip.

20. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric having starter sections and starter escape sections; a manifolding device for supporting said plurality of superposed strips; means engaging said starter sections on the strips and alternately feeding first one and then the other of said strips each a predetermined extent; a severing device to sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip; and a switching device for alternately guiding each of said strips into predetermined stations.

21. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric having starter sections and startor escape sections; a manifolding device for supporting said plurality of superposed strips; means engaging said starter sections on the strips and alternately feeding first one and then the other of said strips each a predetermined extent; a severing device controlled by said means to sever said strips into sheets at the end of the feeding operation of each strip; and a switching device also controlled by said means for alternately guiding the separately advanced strips into predetermined stations.

22. In combination, a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips having starter sections and starter escape sections; a manifolding device for supporting said strips and including a storage compartment; a severing device; means engaging the starter section on the original strip and advancing the original strip alone a predetermined extent; and means for then actuating the severing device to cut-off an original sheet from the original strip and allow the original sheet to fall into the storage compartment.

23. In combination, a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips having starter sections and starter escape sections; a manifolding device for supporting said strips and including a storage compartment; a severing device; means engaging the starter section on the original strip and advancing the original strip alone a predetermined extent; means for then actuating the severing device to cut-off an original sheet from the original strip and allow said sheet to fall into the storage compartment; and means operated thereafter engaging the starter section on the duplicate strip for advancing the duplicate strip alone forwardly, a predetermined extent, across the path previously taken by the original strip.

24. In combination, a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips having starter sections and starter escape sections; a manifolding device for supporting said strips and including a storage compartment; a severing device; means engaging the starter section on the original strip and advancing the original strip alone a predeterminedextent; means for then actuating the severing device to cut-off an original sheet from the original strip and allow the original sheet to fall into the storage compartment; means operated thereafter engaging the starter section on one or more duplicate strips and advancing the duplicate strips alone a predetermined extent across the path previously taken by the original strip to accessible positions outside the machine; and means for thereafter actuating the severing means to cut the accessible sheets from the du-- plicate strips.

25. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having starter sections and starter escape sections; a register including a platen upon which the forms are supported to be written upon; feeding means adapted to ad- Vance strips one form length; and starter means adapted to engage starter sections of some superposed strips to advance one or more of said strips to the feeding means so as to be advanced thereby one form length for disposition in one manner and until the succeeding clear form in the same strip or strips is moved into writing posi tion on the platen and to thereafter engage starter sections and move the remainder of the forms into engagement with the feeding means to be advanced thereby one form length and until the succeeding clear forms in each strip are moved into writing position on the platen.

26. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having starter sections and starter escape sections; a register including a platen upon which the forms may be supported to be written upon; feeding mechanism to advance said strips a form length; an actuator lever for the feeding means; and means, operated by the actuator lever, adapted to engage starter sections and advance one or more of said strips to the feeding mechanism to be advanced one form length and move a succeeding clear form onto the platen and thereafter engage starter sections and move the remainder of the strips to the feeding mechanism to be advanced one form length and move the next succeeding clear form of each strip onto the platen.

27. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having starter sections and starter escape sections; feeding means for advancing said strips single form lengths; and starter means adapted to engage said starter sections alldfil'st advance one or more of said strips into engagement with the feeding means to be advanced one form length thereby and thereafter move the remainder of the strips into engagement with the feeding means to be advanced similarly one form length.

28. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having starter sections and starter escape sections; feeding means for advancing said strips single form lengths; a switching device having a connection with and controlled by the feeding means; and starter means associated with the feeding means and adapted to engage certain of said starter sections and first move one or more of said strips into engagement with feeding means to be advanced one form length thereby, while the feeding means at the same time moves the switching device into one position so that the first strips will be shunted to one station, and thereafter the starter means engages other of said starter sections and moves the remainder of the strips into engagement with the feeding means to be advanced similarly one form length while at the same time the feeding means moves the switching device into another position so that the remainder of the strips will be shunted into another station.

29. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having starter sections and starter escape sections; feeding means for advancing said strips single form lengths; a severing device having a connection with and operated by the feeding means; and starter means associated with the feeding means and adapted to engage certain starter sections and first move one or more of the strips into engagement with the feeding means to be advanced one form length thereby whereupon the feeding means operates the severing device to cut-on the one form length, and thereafter the starter means engages other starter sections and moves the remainder of the strips into engagement with the feeding means to be advanced similarly one form length whereupon the feeding means operates the severing device a second time to cut-off the forms just advanced.

30. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having starter sections and starter escape sections; feeding means for advancing said strips single form lengths; a switching device having a connection with and controlled by the feeding means; a severing device also having a connection with and controlled by the feeding means; and starter means associated with the feeding means and adapted to engage certain starter sections and first advance one or more of said strips into engagement with the feeding means while the latter moves the switching device into one position to be advanced into a predetermined station one form length thereby whereupon the feeding means operates the sever ing device, and thereafter the starter means engages other starter sections and moves the remainder of the strips into engagement with the feeding means while at the same time the feeding means moves the switching device to another position so that the remainder of the strips will be shunted into another station to be advanced one form length thereby whereupon the feeding means operates the severing device a second time to sever the remainder of the advanced forms from the strip.

31. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having feed control and starter control apertures arranged longitudinally thereof; rotatable feeding means comprising a feed roller and disk by which the strips are advanced and which become ineffective to advance strips when'the strips are advanced one form length and the feed control aperture is over the disk; and starter means operated by the feeding means adapted to pass through certain of the starter apertures and engage one or more of the strips to move them into engagement with the rotatable feeding means to be advanced by the latter until the next following feed control aperture moves into registry with the rotatable feeding means, and the starter means thereafter passes through other starter apertures and engages with the remainder of the strips to move 1 move them into engagement with the rotatable feeding means so that the latter advances the remainder of the strips one form length until the next following feed control apertures therein in registry with the rotatable feeding means.

32. In combination, a plurality of strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms in the form of superposed small packs and having feed control and starter control apertures arranged longitudinally of the strips; feeding means for advancing the strips which becomes ineffective to advance strips when feed control apertures move into registry therewith; and starter means operated by the feeding means adapted to pass through certain of the starter apertures and engage one or more of the strips to move part of the forms of one pack into engagement with the feeding means so as to be advanced by the latter until the next following feed control aperture moves into registry with the feeding means, and the starter means being adapted to thereafter pass through other starter apertures and engage with the remainder of the strips to move the re- "l'nainder of the forms in the pack into engagement with the rotatable feeding means so that the latter advances the remainder of the strips until the next following feed control apertures therein move in registry with the rotatable feeding means.

33. In combination, a plurality of superposed original and duplicate strips divided throughout their length into short forms and having feed control and starter control apertures arranged longitudinal of the strip; a register including a storage compartment to support a complete set of forms for the writing operation; feeding means by which the strips are advanced and which become ineffective to advance the strips when a feed control aperture is in registry therewith; a switching device having a connection with the feeding means; and starter means actuated by the feeding means adapted to pass through certain of the starter apertures and engage one or more of the original strips to move them into engagement with the feeding means while the latter moves the switching device into one station to shunt the strips into the storage compartment to be advanced one form length until a succeeding feed control aperture passes into registry with the feeding means and upon further operation of the feeding means the starter means is moved into another set of starter control apertures to engage the remainder of the duplicate strips to move them into engagement with the feeding means while the latter moves the switching device into another station to shunt the remaining strips into another station to be advanced one form length until the next succeeding feed control apertures moves into registry with the feeding means.

34. In combination, a plurality of superposed strips of fabric divided throughout their length into short forms and having feed control and starter control apertures arranged longitudinally thereof; a register having a storage compartment and a platen; feeding means by which the strips are advanced and which become ineffective to advance the strips when feed control apertures move into registry therewith; a switching device; a severing device; starter means adapted to move a selected one or more of the strips and then the remainder of the strips into engagement with the feeding means at predetermined times; and a single actuator, associated with said feeding means, switching device, severing device and 190 starter means, adapted to actuate the starter means so as to move one or more strips into engagement with the feeding means so as to be ad.- vaneed by the latter and to move the switching device into one station so that it will shunt the 105 slrips then being advanced into the storage compartment until the strip or strips have been advanced one form length and the next succeeding feed control aperture moves into registry with the feeding means, and then operate the severing device to cut the advanced single form from the next succeeding form which is in writing position on the platen, during one portion of the movement of the actuator, and thereafter moves the starter means through other starter control apertures into engagement with the remainder of the strips to move them into engagement with the feeding means so that they will be advanced by the latter one form length until the next succeeding feed control apertures move into registry with the feeding means and to move the switching device into another station so that these forms will be shunted to another station and to operate the severing device to cut-off this second set of forms for disposition in another manner.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. 

